Film-printing machine and method



11 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. JOHN FILM PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July14, 1923 Dec. 27, 1927.

MJ fw 35 @Miou/u Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,291

R. JOHN FILM PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 14, 1923 11Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 27, 1927.

R. JOHN FILM PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Ju1y`14. 1923 11Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 27, 1927.

R. JOHN FILM PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD July 4. 1923 l1 Sheets-Sheet `4Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,291

R. JOHN FILM PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 14, 1923 11Sheets-Sheet 5 HOM/LWM Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,291

R. JoHN FILM PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July-'14, 1923 11sheets-sheet s b g @sig D WMM Dea. Z7, 1927.

R. JOHN FILM PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD 7 t e e h s s ...v e e h s 1 19 Z 7 3. m Nm i 4, MMM" 1 www y u m Wl y Tu d e l .l F

, lllilllllli! O Hllllllllllh L l 1l Imam/hoz Dec. 27, 1927. l 1,654,291

R. JOHN FILM PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 14, 1923 11sheets-sheet '8 q1/wanton IW" ,MMX/@Mu Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,291 A R.JOHN FILM PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 14, 1923 11ShBBE'wSheG'C S Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,291

R. JoHN FILM PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 14, 1923 .l1Sheets-Sheet lO Dec, 27, 1927. 1,654,291

R. JOHN FILM PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed July 14, 1925 11Sheets-Sheet 1l 3513 ha @www W www.

lOl

Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

OFFICE.

`BOBERT JOHN", 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

FILM-PBINTNG MACHINE AND METHOD.

Application led July 14, 1923. Serial No. 651,5Ql.

This invention relates to a film-printing machine and method, in which amaster film bearing certain designs or pictures is used for printing ona blank film, which may then be used for reproducing the designs orpic-l tures as, for example, in a moving picture apparatus. Y i

This invention has as an object an apparatus in which a master filmbearing-certain designs may be used for printing upon a blank film inorder to reproduce or duplicate the designs in any desired number. Y

lt has as an `object a machine in which the printing may be performed onthe blank film and the perforations formed in the latter in the exactrelationship .in which they lappear in the master film, `and ithas alsoas an object the provision lof means whereby the master film will not bedamaged during the perforating process.`

A further object of the invention is to provide means for sticking themaster and blank films together without the formation of air bubblesduring the movement through 5 the apparatus, and also to avoid crimpingof the blank film along its edges during the operation. 1

A further object is to provide effective means for advancing the filmswhile theyare stuck together,and to perfor-ate the blank film in exactlythe' correct positions in relation to the pictures.

A still further objectrisl to provide means for separating the masterand blank films -and separately drying and rewinding them,

together with means for supporting the blank film and also the masterfilm while drying. f

Other'objects will appear hereinafter. For the sake of clearncss, theapparatus and method will be described in respect to the progress of thefilms through the apparatus.

The invention in its preferred embodiment is illustrated in thedrawings, which form part ofthis specification, and 1n said' drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the f entire machine showing therelation between the various mechanisms;

Fig. 2 represents the means for sticking the films together;

amsm positioned immediately after the.

means for sticking the films together;

Fig. 5 represents a front elevation of the said squeegee mechanism;

Fig. d shows the clutch mechanisms on the main shaft in side elevation;

Fig. 7'- represents a plan of said main shaft and clutch mechanisms;

. Fig-8 is a side elevation of the filmadvancing' and perforatingmechanism; Fig.1 9 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. l0 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. l1 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, showing thesame mechanism;

Fig l2 is an enlarged rear section of the same mechanism;

F ig. 13 is a side elevation of the winding reels upon which the master`and printed films are wound at the end of the operations; lig.` 14 is arear elevation of the winding ree s;

Fig 15 isv an enlarged side view of the tank 25 and associated parts;

Fig. 16 is a section on line 16-16 of'Fig. 12 looking in the directionofthe arrows.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is shown `a framewhich is gcnerally denoted by the numeral 1, -upon which frame themachine is mounted.V At theright of this frame are two reels designated2 and 2a, upon which are respectively mounted the master film and theblank or secondary film upon which the printing is to be performed. The.master film is unwound ovelr a roller 3 and passes into a tank 4r,`which tank contains a suitable dye to be used as a printing medium. Thefilm passes through this dye tank over a roller 5 down over a' roller 6and then up to a roller 7 mounted upon a receptacle 8 which may beprovided with a bottom of the wall by that the interior mayhe'rinspected if desired. In the center of this rcceptacle'is provided avertical water pipe 12 which has a restricted nozzle 13 at the tothereof, this nozzle having a rectangular ,s it or through which watermay be ejecte in a vertical stream of more or less solidity or o eningill)- lplate 9, hinged to the inges 10 and 11 so lou volume'for thepurpose to be herein explained. Thewater 1s supplied from a receptacle14 supplied by a water pipe 15 and the'water flows by gravity inconstant vol- 6 ume in the said pipe 12.

The film moves into this "receptacle by passing downwardly around aroller 16 and under a smooth copper or brass plate 17 vwhich is pivotedin a suitable manner ad- 10 jacent the roller 16 and lies f reelyagainst 20 The roller 22 is positioned withinJ a tank 25 v adapted tocontain a liquid such as water in order to meisten the film. The excessliquid iswiped off on the Vfeltsurface 24 and the film then moves arounda roller 26, down around a roller 27, and then against the roller18,'where it meets the master film.

Just at this juncture, and while 4coming into Contact, the two films arewashed by the ascendin column of water from the nozzle 13 in suc amanner as to rovide a medium of water in the ypresence o the films asthey meet leachv other, thereby preventing access o f air' andinsuringthe securesticking toggher of the two films. The water also ctions -toremove a portion of the dye from themaster film so that an excess ofdyewill be avoided, but the-time of contact with the water is notsufficient to remove the d ewhich is desired for printing on the b ankfilm. c

The filmsy lnow move upwardly to the squeegee rollers shown in F1g. 4,where they larefsiqiueezed together by successive rollers and t enpassed upward y to the top of the platform# of thev machine. Thesqueegee rollers 'comprise three horizontal lpairs ofV rollersdesignated 2 8, 29, 30, 31,32, and 33. The rollers 28, 30, and 32 aremounted upon a stationa framework attached to the main m'fframe of te'machine2 and they are driven 1 from the vertical horizontal shaft 34,having at the upper end a' gear 35 meshing with a gear 36 on a .verticashaft 37, which has a gear 38 meshing with a driving worm 39 mountedupon a driving Ashaft 40. The Vrollers 29, 31, and 33 are mounted upon amovable frame 41 which maybe moved towards or away from the oppositeframework holding the rollers 28, 30, and 32, by means of aworin .42operated by the hand wheel 43, the frame 41`being sup orted during itsmotion by rods 44, four o which are shown in the drawings .(Fig. 5). Therollers 29, 31, and 33 are driven from the shaft by means of ashaft 45having apinion 46 meshing with a worm 47 keyed to the shaft 40 forsliding engagement therewith. Shaft 45 has suitable gears 48 meshingwith gears 49 on the respective rollers. The Ishaft 40 is driven from amain shaft 50 driven by a motor 51, which is connected thereto bysuitable reduction gearing represented generally by 52. A positiveclutch mechanism 53 operatedby a lever 54 connects the shafts 40 and 50.Other clutch mechanisms are mounted on the main shaft `50 for thepurposes to 'be explained later.

After leaving the rollers, the films move upwardly over a roller 55 andthence outwardly over rollers 56 and 57 to form a loop 58, which may besuspended ona frame or wall at a considerable distance from the machine.The` filiiiis returned over the rollers 59, 60, and 6 1 to a bed orguideway 62, along which films move towards a film-advancing machinedenote by the numeral 63.

This machine is driven from the main shaft by means of another shaft 64'con# ncted thereto by a friction clutch 65 operated by a lever 66, agear 67 being mounted to drive the vertical shaft 68 which is providedwith a pinion 69 meshin with a pinion 70, on a shaft 71 having thereon ahand reel 72 for manual operation. An eccentric 73 is mounted on theshaft 71 and reciprocates the film perforating mechanism which issuspended from the rectangular framework 74 having a rectangular opening75 serving as a bearing for the eccentric block 76. From the rectangularmember 74 are suspended the reciprocating rods 77 and 78 to which areattached the punchers 79 and 80 which serve to punch the perforationsinthe films. A framework 81 is provided having bores therein through.which the rods or pistons move. There is also a bore for areciprocatingrod 84 han ing a hook 83 adapted to be engaged by a slotted plate 82, tocatch and pull upwardly the reciprocating rod 84, which is attached to aholding block 85 through which the perforators move, this holding blockbeing intended to hold the films down to the base 62- while theperforating takes place. A spring 86, positioned between the frame 8lperforating `generally and the block 85, tends to depress the latterdownwardly against the films. The action of this mechanism therefore isthat, with the parts in the position shown in Figs. 11, 12- and 15 'withthe hook 83 in the bottom of the slot in the slotted plate 82, as theeccentric 7 3 moves downwardly due to the rotation of the shaft 71, theframework 74 carrying the reciprocating rods 7 7 and 7 8 and the slottedplate 82 moves downwardly. Under the action of the spring l86 the rod 84and block 85 move downwardly until the block contacts with the bed 62,or the films upon the bed, and continues to exert pres- 'punchers 79 and80 are we 62 lat whichv time the bottom of the slot in` tually dried andrewound.

sure against the bed 62 or the films to hold the films in `\place, whilethe eccentric 73 and framework 74 continue tomove downwardly forcing thepunchers 79 and 8O through the film and through the openings in the bed62. On the upward movement of the eccentric 73 Athe framework 74 movesupwardly carrying with it the reciprocating rods 77 and 78 and the plate82. The block and rod 84 remain motionless however, with the block 85 ppessing against the films or bed platevv beneath 1t, until- `the abovethe;` bed raises the block 85 so that the lms can move the plate 82contactswith thhook 83/and warding means consists of' two shownat 87,which are shaped the perforations in the master fil it along to the leftas yiewed'i Fig. 11. These pawls\a/re attached toa reciprocating block88 operated through link 89 from an eccentric 90 which is driven'by agear 91 operated from the shaft 68 by means of a gear 92. A roller 93,mounted on the framework 81, is in engagement with a cam surface 94upwardly curved at the right, as viewed in Fig. 1 1, so as to exert adepressing action upon said.surface when it is moved to therear.Adjusting means 95 is provi ed for adjusting the position of the cam`surface 94 with'respect to the roller 93.

When the perforating operationghas been feed pawl's, o fit withincompleted, the films pass on over ollers 96 and 97, forming a loop as atl98, and are then pulled over a support 99, which is preferably curvedin the shape of a portion of a cylinder vto avoid crimping of the films.along the edges and thence down into a drying chamberin which a numberof rollers are mounted so that the films may trav- ,erse an up and downcourse for some, distance in order to be separated and even- The dryingchamber is represented by 100 and contains a number of lrollersrepresented by 101 andl 102 vover which the films pass. Between theserollers are' a. series of stationary ribbons represented by 103, eachribbon beincr lmounted, at a quarter-turn and reinforced by whale-boneribs 104 which maintain the Aribbons in a fiat extended'condition. lThefilms pass along the surfaces of theserib-v bons and are maintainedA ina flat condition thereby. Ati-'the roller 105 the films are separated,the master film passing downwardly around the roller 106, upwardly againaround the roller 107, and then down around the roller 108, over to therewinding reel 109; while the printed film passes up over the rollers110 and 111 and then down to the roller 112 from which it is passed overthesuccession of rollers and ribbons shown until it-is thoroughly driedand arforwardly along the bed plate v 2. The forrives at thelast roller113, from which it passes to theA reel 114 to bel woundin a flat Y 115.A fabric belt 116 is mounted to assist in the carrying of the films,this fabric belt meeting the incoming joined films at a roller 117 andtraversing the course with them until they from which point the fabricbelt travels with the printed film around the rollers 111, 112 throughthe rest of the drying chamber,

a rollerV 118 whence it passes around several small rollers, as shown,back over to the roller 117. i

The mounting -of the rewinding reels is shown in Figs. -13 and 14.vReels 109 and 114 are rotated bypinipns 119, 120, respectively, thesepimonsv bein mounted on a vertical shaft 121 driven y a. pinion- 122meshing with another pinion 123 which is driven from the main shaft bysuitable means. The reels maybe of any suitable construction such asfrictionV held discs spring-pressed by springs 124. f In the operationof the machine, themaster film and the blank film are unwound from thereels 2 and 2a respectively, the master film passing through the dyetank, while the blank film passes through the water tank are separatedat the roller 105,

and is separated'fromthe printed film at 25, whereupon they enter thewashing box 100' films come into contact and thereafter the film ofwater between them prevents the entry of air during the subsequentoperations.

The films are each run overa lower roller "in the washing box to give adown-bend to them before coming up to the squeegeeroll ers. The filmsaremounted exactly one over i the'other so that when they come to Athesqueegee rollers they are perfectly true within limi-ts of accuracy ofVthe cutting of the film. To facilitate this, one edge of all the guiderollers is accurately in line with the film edges. The squeegee rollersabove the washing box `force the films together andthereafter they moveupwardl as shown in Fig. 1, to provi 58 -in order to provide slack. Thejoined films are advanced bythe pawls87 step by step, these pawlsfitting withinthe perforations in the master film, which perforationsare made larger than in the 'case of ordinary films. The perforatingmechanism for the blank film that underlies adjusted with respect to thepawls so that the perforatfon'slwill come entirely inside of theperforations in the master'film, thereby avoiding damage to the latter.The position of the perforations res ct to the pictures thereon is thusmade to e the same as in the master film. The

to the right,

in the blank film with ea long loop v the master film, is

pawl operating mechanism is operated by a friction clutch in order toaccelerate slowly as otherwise the films would be in danger of beingtorn by the feed pawls. During the forward movement of the films, theclutches may be manipulated to disengage any one of the mechanisms inorder to 'compensate for undue advance or retardation ofthe films' dueto stretching, shrinking or somel other rause. The loops 58 and' 98 areprovided for the purpose of any variations which might take place beforesuch adjustments are made, thus making it unnecessary to keep too closea watch on the machine. -After passing the perforating mechanism, thefilms are passed into the drying chamber 100 and are sepa-,y

rated at the roller 105, each film being separately rewound on the reels109' and 114.

As many widely different embodiments of this invention may b e madewithout departing from the spirit thereof, I do not intend to lilnitmyself to the preferred embodiment shown except as indicated inthe'ffollowing patent claiins.

1. .A machinefor printing films comprisving the combination of reels forholding a master film and.a blank film, a dye tank, means to pass themaster film through it, means to unite the films by surface contact andexclude `air therebetween, squeegee rollcrs to press the films together,means for extending the films to provideslack, a reciprocating mechanismhaving pawls which @periodically occuy perforations in the master filmto a vance it, a film-holding block operated to hold-the films downwhenA advance has ceased, a reciprocating perforator mounted withrelation to the pawls in such a ymanner as toperforate the printed filmthrough thecenters of the perforations in the master film, and means forseparating Athe lfilmsfand rewinding them.

2. A machine for printing films comprising the combination of reels forholding a master film and a blank film,.a dyetank through which themaster film is adapted to pass, means to" exclude air from between thefilins,`and'means to press thefilms into surface contact to print theblank film from the master film.

' 3. A machine for printing films comprising the'combination of reelsfor holding a master film and a blank film, a dye tank through` whichthe master film is'adapted to pass, means to exclude air from betweenthe filniameans to press the films into surface eontact'to print theblank film from the master film, and means for separating the filmsafter printing. 4. A machlneior printing films comprising the'combination of reels for holding a,-

masteLfilm-and 'a blank film, means for coloring the master film, meansto press the films j into surface contact to print the blank film oringthe master film, means to press the films to surface contact to printthe blank film from the master film, means to move the `lms, areciprocable perforator o erable to perforate' a film, and aholding book operable to clamp the films adjacent the points to be perforatedduring the perforation thereof.

6; In a machine for printing films, a washing box having means forbringing a master film and a blank film into surface contact, and awater supply positioned in proximity to the place of contact to providea column ofiwater against the contacting films.

7. The invention as claimedin claim 6, with the provision of rollers inthe lower part of the washing box around which the films pass and thenceproceed upwardly to the place of surface contact.

8. In a machine for printing films, a washing box having means forbringing a master film and a blank film into surface contact, a rollermounted at the top of the box to bring the films into the box, and awater supply positioned in proximity to the place of contact of thefilms to provide a column of water against the contacting films.

9. In a machine for printing films, a wasbing box having a verticalwater nozzle therein, a roller in close roximity to said nozzle, a.movable guide p ate resting against the roller, and rollers in the lowerpart of the box and at thevupper edges. thereof.

10. In a machine 'for printing a blank film from a master film, a waternozzle, means for guiding the films into a position to be wet by thewater issuing from the nozzle, and means for pressing the films intocontact.

11. In a machine for printing a blank film from a master film, a guidefor one of 4 the films, a yielding guide for the other film 13. Incombination with a machine for printing films having a washing box as.

claimed in claim 6, a moistening means for the blank film in advance ofsaid box and a wiping surface positioned between the box and themoistening means.

14. The .invention as claimed in claim 6,

lou

lll!

lll

all

fill

' netgear ,wherein moans are provided for stopping the advancingmechanism independently of the ina-chine.

18. 4ln a machine for printing films from a `master film, an advancingmeans for the films comprising parvis which are mounted toA reciprocateand periodically enter only the perforations in the master hlm in orderto advance it.

19. In a machine for printing films, the combination of an advancingmechanism, and a perforating mechanism for a film, and a holdinginechanism for the films during the perforating operation..

20. In a machine for printing films, wherein a master filfn .havinglarge perforations is joined to an unperforated film, the combination ofan advancing means and a perforating means so adjusted that theperforations `are made in the -\unperforated film through theperforations in the master film Without touching the edgesi thereof.

21. In a machine for printing films, Wnerein an unperfrated andalperforated film are stgick together, vthe combination of an advancingmeans for the films comprising pawls' mounted to reciprocate and enterthe pcrforations in the perforated film, a perforating means comprisingvertical punchers timed'f'to descend when the pawls have come to rest ina position exactly determined so that the perforations will be madethrough the centers of the perforations in the perforated film Withouttouching the edges thereof.

22. A method of printing films comprising printing on a blank film froma master film and then pcrforating the blank with the same relation tothe pictures thereon as exists on the master film.

23. The invention as claimed in claim 22, wherein the perforating takesplace while the films are stuck together.

24. A method ot printing films comprising printing on a blank film froma master film having large erforations along its edges, and then perorating the blank film through the centers of the perforations in themaster film without touching the edges thereof, with the same relationto the picgllres on the blank as exists on the master 25.. .lheinvention as claimedin claim 24, wherein the perforation is performedwhile the lms are stuck together.

26. A method of sticking films together totinuous surface contact' witha blank film v while directing a column of water against thecontinuously advancing films at their point of' Contact. I r 2d. Amethodof printing films comprising coating a master film with a printingmaterial, bringing the master film intol continuous surface contact witha blank film while directing a column of water against the continuouslyadvancing films at their point of contact, and passing thef1lms"`between squeegee rollers.

'29. A method of' printing films comprising coating a master film with'a printing Inaterial, inoistening a blank film and wiping oft" theexcess moisture, advancing both films in continuous surface contactvwhile playing a column of Water between them.

30. A method of printin films comprising coating a master film Wit aprinting material, moistening a blank film and wiping off the excessmoisture, advancing both films in continuous surface contact Whileplaying a column of Water between them, and passing the films betweensqueegee rollers.

V3l. A method of printing films comprising applying a printing materialto a master film and bringing it into surface contact with a blank filmin the presence of a column ot Water and by squeegee action, perforatingthe blank film, bringing the joined films into a drying chamber,separating and drying them therein and. revvinding them.

32. A machine for printing films comprising the combination of reelsforV holding a master film and a blank film, a, dye tank, means to passthe master film through it, a washing box having means to unite thefilms by a surface contact and a verticalwvater nozzle to direct acolumn of Water against the contactingfilm surfaces, squeegee rollers topress the films together, means for extending the films to provideslack, a reciprocating mechanism having pawls which periodically occupyperforations in the master film to,

advance it, a lilmholding block operated to hold the films down whenadvance has ceased, a reciprocating perforator mounted with relation tothe pawls in such a manner as to perfor-atei the printed films throughthe centers of the perforations in the master film, and means forseparating the films and rewinding them.

33. In a, machine for printing films, reels i for holding a master lfilmand a. blank film,

l a dye tank, means to pass, the master film through it,'means to unitethe films by sur- 'face contact .and exclude air therebetween,-

and squeegee rollers to press the films to ther. 34. `In a machine forprintin films, means for extending the films to provl e slack', a refciprocating mechanism having pawls which `l0 periodically occu y'perforations in the master film to a' vance it, a film-holding blockoperated to hold'the films down when advance has ceased, a reciprocatingperforator mounted with relation to the pawls in such a manner as toperforate thel printed film through the centers of the perforations inthe master film, and meansfor separating the films and rewinding them. v35. The process of making from a perforated motion picture master film,a secondary :motion picture film suitable for enlarged projection in aprojecting machine of the inby the secondary film, performing thesecondary film to correspond to the pcrforations in the master filmwhile the two are in contact, and separating the secondary film from,

the master film;v

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my handthis 11th day of ROBERT JOHN.

July, 1923.

